Twin Trapeze Technique

Originally posted by Doug.H Originally posted by Isis slight topic diversion so sorry.. but... for all you 600 people, are you allowed to take out the centre jammer all together and put the ratchet on the boom taking the sheet straight off there? The only boats ive sailed in about a year have been moths and cherubs and im having issues with silly cast iron bits on the floor that get stuck the wrong side and cleet at the wrong moment! AS IT HAPPENS!!!  I looked at the rules and queried the 600 mailing list a few weeks ago on this and as far as i can see, its fine.  And subsequently just last night i tried sheeting off the boom!  However, from my very personal opinion....dont bother.  It seems great for subtle sheeting adjustments but when your in a position of need to rapidly sheet large lengths in and out on the main, it felt horrible.  Ive no doubt it was just my bad technique but it made tacking and general coming off the wire substantially more difficult.  But again, that is just my Personal opinion.  Doug p.s. I have now completely removed my old mainsheet cleat and base and will be shortly replacing it with a ball and socket swivel base from ronstan.  Its proper nice!!

First time I had the 600 out there was sod all wind and it was less than 5 minutes before I got annoyed with the jammer and took it off the boom... by the time it gets to the kind of wind where youll be wiring though you start to want the ratchet so ive not tried it in anything but drifting conditions.

Nice to know its an option though, will be trying out out if (when) I get one. I dont think LDC would aprove of me doing anything as far out as moving blocks about on their demo boat though...

 

Back on the tacking thing,

when you go into a tack you reach up to your handle with your front hand, grab on and twist your hand slightly so that the mainsheet ends up over your thumb behind the wire.

when you pull yourself in to unhook you just keep hold of the mainsheet till itis time to swap hands. No tangles

it is eisier to demonstrate than it is to describe.

I use the cleat a bit helming off the wire. Since you can't sheet in easily with both hands (hiking centre main style) because of the way you must hold the extension, the cleat is useful. Downwind it is useful too since I don't play the main that much because I'm trying the boat the right way up! Aside from helming of the wire I never ever use mainsheet cleats.

I also use the cleat for tacking. I ease the sheet a bit, cleat it and start the tack. When I'm off the wire I regrab and uncleat the sheet and complete the tack. See higher and faster dvd to make it clear. Doing this means you won't get tangled or ease the main lots when you move into the boat.

Edited by m_liddell

Originally posted by Doug.H Originally posted by m_liddell I use the cleat a bit helming off the wire. Since you can't sheet in easily with both hands (hiking centre main style) because of the way you must hold the extension, the cleat is useful. The question you should ask yourself is if the cleat wasnt there at all, would you then develop a more effecient quicker way of sheeting in......the answer is almost certainly yes. Originally posted by m_liddell Downwind it is useful too since I don't play the main that much because I'm trying the boat the right way up! So you dont pump the main on the waves/gusts??  Or in the lighter winds gently play adjust the main angle for optimum effeciency?? Overall (assuming you dont have a kite to deal with on your own) the cons far outway the pro's of having a cleat for the mainsheet.  Doug

The loads on the mainsheet on my the 14 are pretty high so that is probably why I have got used to using it. I use a frying pan grip on the tiller, maybe I should switch.

One guy I know doesn't use the cleat and wraps the mainsheet around his hand many times and shakes off a new turns to sheet out and wraps a few more turns on his hand to sheet in!

 

Thank God fo that, I thought it was just me that resorted to the wrapping-round technique. Usually only at the top of windy beats and generally on port tack. The grip on my right hand is much stronger.

Can't imagine why...